Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 7 February 2013

Scotland

Environment Protection

Cathy Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions took place on the green economy at the Employability Forum held on 31 January 2013 by the UK and Scottish Governments. [141705]

David Mundell:
The first meeting of the Scottish Employability Forum on 31 January considered the. current employability and skills landscape in Scotland. Members agreed to bring forward common priorities in the coming months to ensure the best outcomes for the unemployed in Scotland. The minutes of the Forum meetings will be published in due course on the website:

http://www.employabilityinscotland.com

and the Scotland Office website.

Manufacturing Industries

Cathy Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether recent job losses in the manufacturing sector in Scotland were discussed in the Employability Forum held between the UK and Scottish Governments on 31 January 2013. [141704]

David Mundell:
The first meeting of the Scottish Employability Forum on 31 January considered the current employability and skills landscape in Scotland. Members agreed to bring forward common priorities in the coming months to ensure the best outcomes for the unemployed in Scotland. The minutes of the Forum meetings, will be published in due course on the website:

http://www.employabilityinscotland.com

and the Scotland Office website.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel

Mr Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will consider imposing a ban on the exporting of weapons and components of weapons to the Israeli Government. [141925]

Alistair Burt:
We do not believe that imposing a blanket arms embargo on Israel would be justified. The UK is firmly committed to Israel's security—and Israel continues to face many genuine security threats. Nor do we believe that an arms embargo would advance the middle east peace process. We already apply rigorously the Consolidated European Union and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, including with respect to Israel and do not allow any arms exports which we assess would be contrary to those criteria.

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Mr Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration the Government have given to banning UK companies from manufacturing components sold to Israel to make drones. [141926]

Alistair Burt:
We do not believe that a ban on UK companies manufacturing components is necessary, given the stringent requirements of the criteria by which we assess all arms exports. These assessments take into consideration the remit of the end user and the specification of the final platform. We refuse licences for any arms exports to Israel which we assess would be inconsistent with the criteria or other relevant commitments.

Prime Minister

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mr Watson:
To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 1004W, on ministerial policy advisers, if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of information that was requested in that question. [141991]

The Prime Minister:
I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 1004W.

International Development

Afghanistan

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of their time her Department's staff in Afghanistan spend in the field. [141613]

Justine Greening:
DFID staff regularly undertake field visits across Afghanistan to ensure our programmes are delivering results for the Afghan people and that we are getting value for money for the UK taxpayer. Information on the exact proportion of staff time involved cannot be provided for operational and security reasons.

Bangladesh

Mrs Main:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the monitoring of the progress of projects funded by PMTC Bangladesh. [128352]

Mr Duncan:
PMTC does not directly receive funding from DFID to implement or fund projects. PMTC is a member of a consortium led by Harewelle International and employs local staff who work for Harewelle International managed projects. Please refer to the answer given to PQ 128353 on 20 November 2012, Official Report, columns 475-6W, for an explanation of the assessments made on the Stimulating Household Improvements Resulting in Economic Empowerment programme, which is the funding window of the Economic Empowerment of the Poorest programme, managed by Harewelle International.

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Burundi

James Duddridge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment she has made of the effect of the recent fire in the main market in the capital of Burundi; and if she will make a statement; [142029]

(2) what discussions she has had with the Burundi Government on the effect on food prices in that country of the recent market fire in the capital of Burundi; and if she will make a statement; [142030]

(3) what support her Department plans to give to the Burundi Government to help mitigate the effects of the recent market fire on the national economy and the population of that country. [142031]

Lynne Featherstone:
Along with other members of the diplomatic corps in Burundi, the UK deputy high commissioner (based in Rwanda with regional coverage of Burundi) visited the site of the former central market in Bujumbura, at the invitation of the Burundian Minister for External Relations, on 31 January 2013. She found the market was comprehensively destroyed. The Burundian Government committed to establish a temporary market place in a different location while the area was cleared and rebuilt.

An assessment of the cost and impact of the damage has not yet taken place. However it was clear that the economic impact will be significant, both for the traders and their extended families who relied on the market for trade.

On the same day, the deputy high commissioner had meetings with Trade Mark East Africa who are studying the impact and medium term needs following the disaster.

The Department for International Development (DFID) continues to support the economic and trade integration of Burundi into the East African Community through the regional Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) programme. The UK will consider any TMEA recommendations for targeted support through our existing regional programme. .

Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment her Department has made of poverty reduction in Burundi; and if she will reinstate her Department's bilateral aid programme in that country. [142071]

Justine Greening:
My Department remains engaged with Burundi through work with multilateral organisations and Trade Mark East Africa. My Department will continue with existing multilateral relationships.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Rushanara Ali:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether she has recently had discussions with her international counterparts on (a) committing funding to the green climate fund and (b) ensuring that funding does not come from existing aid budgets or in the form of loans. [141599]

Lynne Featherstone:
The United Kingdom is fully committed to making the green climate fund operational as soon as possible. However, we will not be committing

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funding to the green climate fund until we are confident that the fund will deliver good value for money for UK taxpayers and for poor people in developing countries. We are using our seat on the board of the fund to make sure that the fund is designed well.

Resources are available from the UK's International Climate Fund for the green climate fund when we are confident in its design. These resources will come from the UK's rising aid budget. When we arrive at the point of making a contribution, we will assess the right mix of grants and loans to maximise the total amount of money available for developing countries.

Developing Countries: Tuberculosis

Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on direct bilateral aid for tuberculosis in each country in each of the last five years. [141738]

Lynne Featherstone:
The Department for International Development (DFID) supports tuberculosis control through a variety of bilateral channels including: projects and programmes at the country level; strengthening health systems in our partner countries to deliver tuberculosis outcomes; and funding research. We also provide support through multilateral channels and global partnerships. We cannot precisely disaggregate DFID expenditure for tuberculosis control from channels other than direct projects and programmes.

Figures for direct spend on tuberculosis are reproduced as follows:

£000

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

Burma

720

1,536

2,000

243

China

2,888

4,414

—

—

India

4,178

8,188

750

—

Indonesia

400

—

—

—

Kyrgyzstan

25

175

98

200

Pakistan

1,805

37

92

33

Non specific

11,003

18,696

42,720

8,989

Total bilateral

21,020

33,048

45,661

9,465

Spend on tuberculosis was first recorded under a separate code in 2008-09 in line with international aid reporting.

International Assistance

Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when her Department expects to publish the findings of its next multilateral aid review. [142004]

Justine Greening:
The Department for International Development will publish an update to the Multilateral Aid Review at the end of 2013.

Overseas Aid

Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her policy is on aid funding for middle income countries; and if she will make a statement. [142036]

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Justine Greening:
DFID allocates its aid resources based on a range of factors including the need for aid and likely effectiveness and value for money of UK aid. Decisions about middle income countries are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria her Department uses to inform its decisions of when and how it ceases to provide aid. [142067]

Justine Greening:
Decisions about aid, including in relation to when and how it is stopped, are taken on a case-by-case basis based on a range of factors including the need for aid and the likely effectiveness and value for money of UK aid.

Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any additional financial resources allocated by her Department will be channelled primarily through (a) multilateral agencies and (b) outside consultants. [142068]

Justine Greening:
The Department delivers resources through the channels that provide the best value for money in delivering results.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agricultural Wages Board

Mr Watson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how submissions to the consultation on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board can be accessed; if he will publish each submission made to the consultation on his Department's website; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each submission to the consultation. [141632]

Mr Heath:
A summary of the responses to the consultation on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board and related English committees was published on the DEFRA website on 19 December and can be found at the following link:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/10/16/agri-wages-board/

There were 939 responses to the consultation exercise and it would not be practicable to make them all available on the DEFRA website. However, the consultation responses, other than those where respondees requested confidentiality, are available in the main departmental library at the Information Resource Centre (IRC) at Ergon House, c/o 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR (telephone 020 7238 6575). The IRC will supply, on request, copies of responses to personal callers or telephone enquirers. An administrative charge to cover copying and postage will be made.

Bees: Pesticides

Anas Sarwar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on bees. [141307]

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Mr Heath:
Since concerns were first raised on this important issue, DEFRA has been clear that it will act in accordance with the evidence. The independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides considered the latest evidence on the risks to bees from neonicotinoid insecticides at its meeting on 29 January. Once DEFRA Ministers have the Committee's advice, we will then consider the appropriate response.

Floods: Insurance

Chris Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of how insurance claims for flooding are treated. [139233]

Richard Benyon:
The insurance industry has an important role to play in helping people recover from the distressing experience of their home or business being flooded.

I understand that claim handling arrangements generally seem to be working well in communities affected by recent flooding. We will continue to keep this under review.

Insurers tell us they have learned lessons from previous floods, with many providing 24-hour help lines as well as practical advice on the ground in communities affected.

Forests

Guy Opperman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to combat deforestation; and what assessment he has made of the final report by the Independent Panel on Forestry, published in July 2012. [141584]

Mr Heath:
The Government published their Government Forestry Policy on 31 January 2013, Official Report, columns 56-58WS. This included our response to the Independent Panel on Forestry's final report. Copies are available in the Library of the House and on the DEFRA website. It acknowledges the importance of the panel's report and confirms that the Government share its vision for the future of our forests. In the statement we confirmed that the Public Forest Estate will remain in public ownership. We also announced that a new body will be established to hold the estate in trust for the nation and manage it for the long-term benefit of people, the economy and the environment.

We are committed to protecting and enhancing our existing woodland resource and also agree with the panel that there is scope to accelerate the rate of planting in order to increase further the amount of woodland cover in this country. Current planting rates exceed the loss of woodland.

The Government's policy on when to convert woods and forests to open habitats in England was also confirmed, which includes strict criteria on when there are compelling reasons to permit deforestation for reasons of wildlife conservation. These criteria inform decisions about whether to grant an unconditional felling licence under the terms of the Forestry Act and any determination required by Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) regulations. Where deforestation is permitted, compensatory planting may be a requirement.

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Genetically Modified Organisms

Mr Spellar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding the opening of the EU market to GM foods. [140736]

Mr Heath:
The Government are concerned that the EU control regime for GM crops and foods is deterring investment, innovation and growth. The EU has been authorising the import of GM commodities for food and animal feed use, albeit relatively slowly, but there is a significant problem with the time it takes to secure approval to market GM seeds for commercial cultivation. Only one GM crop has been cleared for planting in the last 14 years, which means that producers and consumers are being denied the potential benefits that GM cultivation could bring. The rest of the world is leaving Europe behind in adopting GM technology, so we are taking every opportunity to argue for the EU safety-based regime to function more effectively.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I discussed this issue in my recent meeting with the Commissioner for health and consumer policy.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: EU Action

Martin Horwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes his Department is planning to introduce in response to the draft regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gasses, published on 7 November 2012. [140675]

Richard Benyon:
DEFRA is not currently planning to introduce any changes in response to the draft regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases.

This proposal is still under discussion by the European Parliament and the Council. We continue to work closely with stakeholders, member states and the European Commission to ensure that UK views are taken into account as negotiations progress. Until agreement on the detail of the draft regulation has been reached and a new EU regulation adopted, it is not possible to say what changes might need to be made to the current requirements under Regulation (EC) No. 842/2006 on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases, which remain in place.

Horses: Slaughterhouses

Mary Creagh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which 20 organisations send the greatest number of horses to slaughter. [139656]

Mr Heath:
The information requested is not recorded, although all equidae consigned for slaughter must be accompanied by a valid horse passport. These documents contain details of the animal's identity, and a record of veterinary medicines administered to show whether the animal has been permanently excluded from slaughter for human consumption. Officials from the Food Standards

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Agency are present in abattoirs to ensure that only eligible equidae are permitted to enter the human food chain.

Stone Theft

George Galloway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider introducing methods of tackling thefts of Yorkshire stone similar to those now in place for metal thefts. [142050]

Mr Jeremy Browne:
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.

The Government are delivering a comprehensive package of measures to crack down on metal thieves and punish rogue scrap metal dealers including providing funding for more focussed enforcement activity, seeking design solutions to deter thieves and making legislative changes. The Home Office monitors emerging crime issues but has no current plans to adopt a similar approach in relation to the theft of Yorkshire stone. With the election of police and crime commissioners, local police forces are able to allocate resources appropriately to respond to local crime priorities.

Health

Antibiotics

Mr Jamie Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure resistance to antibiotics does not increase in the NHS. [141995]

Dr Poulter:
The Department is leading work on a new cross-Government UK five year “Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy and Action Plan (2013-18)”, to address resistance to antibiotics.

The strategy and action plan aims to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance in the healthcare sector by, for example, ensuring that good infection prevention and control measures become the norm to help prevent disease occurring, rather than a reliance on antibiotics. It also aims to ensure that infections can be diagnosed quickly, and the right treatment is deployed, and that patients are fully aware of the importance of treatment regimens prescribed and adhere to them. In addition, the strategy will ensure that surveillance is in place, which quickly identifies new threats or changing patterns in resistance.

The strategy and action plan will be published in spring 2013.

Cancer: Drugs

Rosie Cooper:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that NHS cancer patients do not lose access to the latest innovative cancer treatments which they are presently able to receive when the Cancer Drugs Fund comes to an end in 2014. [142065]

Norman Lamb:
National health service organisations will continue to be legally required to fund cancer treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in its technology appraisal guidance.

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We will ensure that there are arrangements in place to protect individual patients who are receiving treatment with drugs funded by the Cancer Drugs Fund as the end of the Fund approaches.

We want to find a way in which patients who would benefit from drugs provided through the Cancer Drugs Fund can continue to do so, at a cost that represents value to the NHS, after the Fund comes to an end.

Rosie Cooper:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the Cancer Drugs Fund has been spent to date; and how much of the fund remains unspent. [142102]

Norman Lamb:
Information on spend by strategic health authorities (SHAs) under the interim cancer drugs funding arrangements in 2010-11 (from October 2010 to the end of March 2011) and under the Cancer Drugs Fund (from April 2011 to the end of December 2012) is shown in the table.

The Radiotherapy Innovation Fund will utilise any underspend in the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2012-13.

£000

Amount spent

Allocation(2)

October 2010 to end March 2011

(1)38,254

50,000

April 2011 to end March 2012

(1)108,327

200,000

April 2012 to end December 2012

117,357

200,000

(1) Includes end of year spending commitments.
(2) £200 million was available for the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2011-12 and 2012-13. This comprised £140 million allocated to the NHS and a further £60 million made available for SHAs to draw down as needed.
Source:
Information supplied to the Department by strategic health authorities

Rosie Cooper:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that no restrictions will be placed on access to cancer medicines that are currently available under the cancer drugs fund when the NHS Commissioning Board takes over the management of that fund in 2013. [142123]

Norman Lamb:
From April 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board will take on oversight of the Cancer Drugs Fund. Access to specific cancer drugs through the fund will continue to be based on the principle of clinically-led decision making that has guided the fund since it was created.

Doctors: Vacancies

Martin Horwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of (a) consultant and (b) registrar posts at ST4 level or above in England are currently unfilled by permanent appointments. [141828]

Dr Poulter:
The information is not collected centrally.

General Practitioners

Ms Abbott:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of local area teams' responsibility to maintain

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quality in their area; whether the accreditation and re-accreditation of GPs with a special interest falls within that responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [141618]

Dr Poulter:
The area teams (ATs) of the NHS Commissioning Board are responsible for the quality of the primary medical care services which they commission, that is for the quality of the services provided by general practitioners in their generalist role. The AT responsible officer has the additional responsibility of advising on the revalidation of general practitioners across the whole range of their clinical practice, which could include specialist roles. Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for the quality of the specialist services which they commission on behalf of their local populations, and in addition have a statutory duty to support the NHS Commissioning Board in improving the quality of primary medical care. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 991W, we are considering a wide range of options for the future arrangements for the accreditation and re-accreditation of General Practitioners with Special Interests, and will be making an announcement in due course.

Health Services

Martin Horwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on providing emergency care closer to home; and what national policy documents and guidance are produced by his Department on this matter. [141829]

Anna Soubry:
The Department does not hold a national policy on providing emergency care closer to home. The configuration of urgent and emergency care services is a matter for the local national health service, and commissioners should ensure that there is provision of appropriate urgent and emergency care services locally to provide safe and effective care for patients.

Kidneys: Diseases

Rosie Cooper:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services' recommendation to nationally commission Eculizumab for the treatment of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome; and if he will make a statement; [142066]

(2) when he expects the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to (a) begin and (b) complete its appraisal of Eculizumab for the treatment of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome. [142069]

Norman Lamb:
Ministers accepted the view of the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services on the clinical effectiveness of eculizumab for the treatment of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) but wanted further advice on its suitability for direct commissioning taking account of its cost effectiveness and affordability against the overall national health service financial position.

The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to develop guidance on the use of eculizumab for aHUS as the first topic to

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be evaluated through its highly specialised technologies programme. NICE will produce a timetable for the development of its guidance.

Medical Treatments

Mr Virendra Sharma:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Commissioning Board expects to make all National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-approved medicines for specialised conditions available to patients in accordance with the three-month funding direction. [141763]

Norman Lamb:
Subject to the passage of secondary legislation, the Government's intention is that there will be a statutory requirement on the NHS Commissioning Board to fund highly specialised technologies that have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), normally within three months of NICE's final guidance.

NHS Trusts

Heidi Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if his Department will conduct a lessons learnt review into the use of the Unsustainable Providers Regime at the South London Healthcare Trust; [142006]

(2) in which NHS hospital trusts he is currently enacting the Unsustainable Providers Regime. [142008]

Anna Soubry:
It is normal practice for the Department to learn the lessons from the first application of any process and these lessons will be built into any further application of the trust special administrator's regime.

The trust special administrator's regime for a national health service trust, is triggered by the Secretary of State for Health. For an NHS foundation trust, the regime is triggered by Monitor. The regime is currently not being applied to any other NHS trust or NHS foundation trust.

NHS: Private Sector

Tim Farron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many private health companies have lost contracts with the NHS following serious failings in each year since 2007; [141993]

(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that public health is prioritised over profit by private companies providing contracts for the NHS. [142078]

Anna Soubry:
The Department does not collect the information requested centrally because it is for local commissioners to manage contracts for local services as they are best placed to do so.

Commissioners must act with a view to securing continuous improvements in the quality of services provided and outcomes they are seeking to achieve for their populations. They are responsible for specifying the quality of services in their contracts and for holding providers to account for delivering this. Increasingly, services will be subject to a national or local tariff, and private providers will compete on the quality and outcomes provided by their services not price.

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South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Heidi Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his oral statement of 31 January 2013, when he plans to conclude his negotiations with King's Health Partners on the amount of (a) capital and (b) non-recurrent transitional funding they require to implement the recommendations of the special administrator to the South London Healthcare Trust. [142007]

Anna Soubry:
The final decisions on funding for each individual hospital will be worked through as part of the implementation planning process, in collaboration with the Department to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. This process will be concluded as soon as possible.

Heidi Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his oral statement of 31 January 2013, what evidence the NHS Medical Director, Sir Bruce Keogh, used in arriving at his conclusion that the smaller accident and emergency at University Hospital Lewisham would continue to see up to 75 per cent of current patients; and if he will publish that evidence. [142009]

Anna Soubry:
The draft report by the Trust Special Administrator (TSA) proposed that the accident and emergency (A&E) department at Lewisham hospital should be downgraded to a non-admitting Urgent Care Centre.

The draft report estimated that around 77% of Lewisham hospital's current A&E activity would remain at that site. The figures are based on activity data supplied to the TSA by Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust. In light of consultation, the TSA revised this figure to “at least 50%”.

Sir Bruce Keogh advised the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), that Lewisham hospital should retain an admitting A&E service with 24 hour, seven-day senior emergency medical cover. His estimate that the site could manage nearer to 75% of activity with these changes is based on the Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust's admissions data and, flowing from this, that the A&E would have the clinical capacity to safely treat this number of patients.

The TSA's original analysis is in his draft report which is available at:

www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/10/tsa-draftreport/

Sir Bruce's advice is available at:

www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/01/slht-decision/

Both the TSA analysis and Sir Bruce's advice can only be estimates based on the best available information at the time. Managing activity levels across the different sites will need to be a key part of implementation planning involving clinical commissioning groups, national health service providers and the NHS Trust Development Authority.

Andy Burnham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his contribution of 8 January 2013, Official Report, column 170, what new legal advice he has received on the actions taken by the Trust Special Administrator in relation to South London Healthcare Trust. [142019]

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Anna Soubry:
In advance of taking a decision, the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), received legal advice which confirmed the position set out in his letter to the right hon. Member of 12 December 2012.

Energy and Climate Change

Bullying

Luciana Berger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many cases of (a) bullying, (b) harassment and (c) constructive dismissal in his Department have been reported to his Department in each year since May 2010. [142141]

Gregory Barker:
We are unable to provide information requested about (a) bullying, (b) harassment and (c) constructive dismissal in the Department of Energy and Climate Change as totals of five or less are suppressed on the grounds of confidentiality under section 40 of the Data Protection Act.

Energy

Anas Sarwar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) local authorities and (b) third sector organisations in each (i) nation of the UK and (ii) region of England submitted applications for Government funding for local energy schemes to help reduce fuel poverty, boost energy efficiency and encourage collective switching; and how many such applications were (A) successful and (B) not successful. [142129]

Gregory Barker:
There were three strands of funding available under the DECC local authority competition 2012-13. Authorities could apply for support from one, two or all three funding pots, either as single bidders or as part of consortia. The Cheaper Energy Together Fund was also open to third sector organisations.

Only local authorities in England were eligible to apply for support from the fuel poverty and Green Deal Pioneer Places funds. The ‘Cheaper Energy Together’ collective switching scheme was open to local authorities and third sector organisations in Great Britain.

The following tables give a breakdown of applications by region and country.

Energy Companies Obligation

Luciana Berger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the change to an average (a) gas, (b) electricity and (c) dual fuel bill arising from setting the rate of Energy Company Obligation subsidy at (i) £80 and (ii) £180 per tonne of carbon dioxide saved. [142131]

Gregory Barker:
The Government's estimate of the cost to energy companies of meeting their obligations is set out in the Final Green Deal and ECO impact assessment. Under our central projections we estimate that the market clearing ECO subsidy rate of meeting the carbon saving obligation is £77 per tonne of carbon dioxide saved. This equates to a total estimated cost to energy companies of delivering ECO at around £1.3 billion a year on average. Whether and how these costs are passed through to consumers is a question for individual energy companies.

The Department has not estimated the costs to energy companies of ECO subsidy rates of £80 and £180 per tonne of carbon dioxide saved.

Fracking

Mr Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2013, Official Report, column 404W, on the Petroleum Act 1998, whether any of the operators with a section 29 notice under review are licensed to undertake onshore shale gas exploration. [142058]

Mr Hayes:
It is not appropriate to provide the information requested as it could lead to potential identification of parties with a section 29 notice under review and speculation regarding their financial capacity.

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Nuclear Power

Andrew Rosindell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the future use of nuclear power on national energy supplies. [141327]

Mr Hayes:
New nuclear power, alongside other forms of electricity generation such as renewables and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage, is a key part of our future low carbon energy mix, keeping us on a cost-effective pathway to meet our energy security and decarbonisation objectives.

While we welcome plans set out by industry to develop approximately 16 GW of new nuclear capacity, the Government do not have technology specific targets. By ensuring a diverse energy mix we will ensure a secure and sustainable low carbon energy future.

Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil

Mr Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent progress he has made on the creation of a new Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil; and if he will make a statement. [142033]

Mr Hayes:
As announced in the Gas Generation Strategy in December 2012, DECC is setting up an Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil (OUGO), which, working with DEFRA and other Government Departments, will join up responsibilities across Government, provide a single point of contact for investors and ensure a simplified and streamlined regulatory process.

We are currently recruiting for a head of the office. We are also working with the relevant Government Departments to agree the remit and role of OUGO and will provide more details on this shortly.

Public Expenditure

Luciana Berger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of likely expenditure by his Department under each budgetary heading and sub-heading in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15. [142142]

Gregory Barker:
The Department for Energy and Climate Change is currently finalising detailed business plans for 2013-14. Details of expenditure under each budgetary heading and sub-heading will be published in the 2013-14 Main Estimate in the spring. Detailed 2014-15 budgets have not been set yet. High level budgets for resource DEL, capital DEL and AME were set in the Department's spending review settlement which is published on the HM Treasury website.

Wind Power

Guy Opperman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what limits he has placed on the development of on-shore wind capacity. [141583]

Gregory Barker:
There are no targets or limits for onshore wind. We anticipate needing 13 gigawatts of onshore wind, alongside other renewables, to meet the 2020 renewables target.

7 Feb 2013 : Column 382W

Wind farms must be well-designed and well-sited to be approved. Our planning reforms put local communities in the driving seat by giving them new powers to write their own plans. The Localism Act requires developers to consult potential host communities before a formal planning application is put in, to ensure that views of communities are captured at an early stage.

Dr Murrison[holding answer 1 February 2013]: During 2011-12 the Ministry of Defence conducted Defence Engagement, including liaison and the provision of training, in Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. The cost to the Defence budget and to tri-departmental conflict pool funds of these activities for financial year 2011-12 is provided in the following table:

Nigeria

2,302,000

Algeria

18,000

Libya(1)

1,523,000

Sudan

1,638,000

South Sudan

629,000

Ethiopia

1,201,000

Somalia

246,000

Kenya(2)

323,000

£

(1) The figure provided for Libya excludes costs associated with Operation Ellamy which were met from the Treasury Reserve.
(2) The figure provided for Kenya excludes conflict pool funding for the British Peace Support Team (East Africa) who conduct training activity throughout the East Africa region including Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, at a total annual cost of £4.5 million.
Note:
1. The figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000, and exclude counter-terrorism related activity, due to its sensitive nature, and the costs of maintaining Defence attachés and advisers.
2. In addition, the figures provided do not take into account the costs of training by UK forces, principally the extensive training which takes place routinely in Kenya. Other miscellaneous expenditure, for example costs associated with senior visits or transit flights, is not collated centrally.

Algeria

Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel are currently deployed in Algeria; and what their purpose is. [141625]

Mr Robathan[holding answer 5 February 2013]:There are currently six British military personnel in Algeria: the defence attaché whose role is defence engagement; a sergeant who is a temporary augmentee assisting the defence attaché; and four members of a close protection team for Her Majesty's ambassador to Algeria.

Armed Forces: Food

Sir Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the sourcing of meat for consumption by members of HM armed forces. [142140]

7 Feb 2013 : Column 383W

Dr Murrison:
All food procured for UK armed forces must comply with MOD Food Quality Standards. These standards, which are reviewed and updated every six months, comply with all UK and EU production standards, Farm Assurance or equivalent.

Defence: Procurement

Bridget Phillipson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to publish an updated version of its defence industrial strategy. [142011]

Dr Murrison:
Our approach to purchasing equipment, support and technology for the UK armed forces is set out in the National Security Through Technology White Paper (Cm 8278) published in February 2012. This will be revisited at the time of the next strategic defence and security review. Building on the White Paper, the Defence Growth Partnership led by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be looking at how to improve the competitiveness of the UK defence sector.

Mali

Mr Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to encourage the inclusion of ethical education in the training of Malian troops by UK or EU personnel. [141594]

Mr Robathan:
The mandate for the EU Training Mission includes ethical education of all Mali Armed Forces personnel. The syllabus will specifically include the promotion of Human Rights and Gender Issues. The UK has offered to be in the lead for this element of the training and provide three civilian trainers. The UK's final contribution to this training mission has yet to be determined.

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected duration is of Operation Newcombe; and how many troops he anticipates will be involved. [141614]

Mr Robathan:
I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 785, to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth), in which he outlined the current situation regarding Op Newcombe.

In addition, the EU Training Mission (Mali) has a proposed mandate of 15 months from the mission launch. The earliest this is expected is 12 February 2013, but no decisions have been taken on the duration of any British contribution.

With regards to the number of troops involved in Op Newcombe, I refer my hon. Friend to the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the deployment of personnel to Mali on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 781.

In addition, there are currently around 30 people in France supporting the CI7 deployment.

7 Feb 2013 : Column 384W

Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he first received a request from the French Government for military support in operations in Mali. [141623]

Mr Robathan[holding answer 5 February 2013]: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), first received a request from the French Government for military support to operations in Mali on 12 January 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Mr Baron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to respond to the letter of 20 November 2012 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding British nuclear test veterans. [140296]

Dr Murrison[holding answer 29 January 2013]: The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), is looking at the issues in detail and will respond in due course.

Piracy

Mr Ellwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the rules of engagement and their interaction with floating armories; and if he will make a statement. [141615]

Mr Robathan:
UK naval ships will have only routine interaction with vessels being used as Floating Armouries and therefore standard Royal Navy guidelines apply.

Red Arrows

Mr Leigh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure the long-term future of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows. [142084]

Sir Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Red Arrows air display team; and if he will make a statement. [142139]

Mr Robathan:
There are no plans to disband the Red Arrows.

Trooping the Colour

Sir Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of Trooping the Colour commemoration; and if he will make a statement. [142138]

Mr Francois:
The Ministry of Defence has no intention of changing the format or frequency of Trooping the Colour.

7 Feb 2013 : Column 385W

Business, Innovation and Skills

Regional Growth Fund

15. Kris Hopkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the regional growth fund on job creation. [141943]

19. Gavin Williamson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the regional growth fund on job creation. [141947]

Vince Cable:
Nationwide, 360 selected beneficiaries will benefit from the £2.4 billion allocated from the fund so far, with the potential to create 500,000 jobs and generate £13 billon matching private investment.

Space Industry

16. Dr Phillip Lee:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to increase support for the UK space industry. [141944]

Mr Willetts:
Britain's space sector is growing at over 8% a year. The Government supported this high growth sector by providing £1.2 billion of investment at the European Space Agency Ministerial last November. On 24 January I announced an extra £25 million for National Space research. The Satellite Applications Catapult is now open and will receive core funding of up to £10 million per annum.

Graphene Research

18. Jonathan Reynolds:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of investment by UK businesses in graphene research. [141946]

Mr Willetts:
The UK has made a major contribution to graphene research, since its discovery in 2004 and the Nobel prize for Professors Geim and Novoselov of Manchester University in 2010.

We are investing £60 million in graphene of which £38 million will be used to create a National Institute of Graphene Research at the University of Manchester.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have invested £10 million on linked manufacturing processes and technologies.

Universities will be working with industrial partners including Dyson and BAE who are expected to provide an additional £12 million. We expect UK universities and businesses to benefit from the new €1 billion investment in graphene by the EU.

Groceries Code Adjudicator

20. Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on establishing the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator. [141950]

7 Feb 2013 : Column 386W

Jesse Norman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on establishing the role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator. [141929]

Jo Swinson:
I am delighted to have announced Christine Tacon as our choice for Adjudicator. She has extensive experience in retail and farming and her sector knowledge will help make her an effective Adjudicator.

The Adjudicator-Designate is currently working on drafting guidance, meeting stakeholders and establishing her office.

I am happy to inform the hon. Member that she will be visiting innovative direct suppliers in Herefordshire later this spring.

Foreign Direct Investment

21. Ian Swales:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the effectiveness of his Department's initiatives designed to attract foreign direct investment. [141951]

Michael Fallon:
I have answered several parliamentary questions on successful foreign direct investment into the UK.

The autumn statement announced a further £70 million for UKTI including support for small businesses and those exporting for the first time.

Copyright

Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment the Intellectual Property Office has made of the prevalence of activity that constitutes teaching and illustration but which is not covered by existing regulations governing non-commercial educational purposes. [141879]

Jo Swinson:
Details of the planned changes with respect to educational establishments can be found in the consultation response ‘Modernising Copyright: A modern, robust and flexible framework' as well as the accompanying impact assessment. Examples of activities commonplace in schools that will be permitted under the new provisions include the use of interactive whiteboards and similar technology and the viewing of publicly accessible websites in classrooms. The changes will also allow the use of all types of media in teaching and education and facilitate the growing demand for distance learning.

Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Intellectual Property Office has created a definition of fair dealing; and if it will provide such a definition in any legislative proposals to reform copyright exceptions. [141880]

Jo Swinson:
The Intellectual Property Office has not created a definition of “fair dealing”, nor does it propose to do so. For an explanation of “fair dealing” I refer the

7 Feb 2013 : Column 387W

hon. Member to my reply of 4 February 2013,

Official Report

, column 105W, to question 140319.

Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he intends to bring forward legislative proposals to make copyright regulations simpler for people to understand. [141881]

Jo Swinson:
The Government have announced they will implement a non-statutory scheme to issue ‘copyright notices’ that clarify copyright law. Details are outlined on pp. 49-52 of ‘Modernising Copyright: A modern, robust and flexible Framework’, the Government's response to consultation published in December 2012, which is available from:

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/response-2011-copyright-final.pdf

Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the comparative costs and benefits of introducing a fair dealing exception for the use of sound recordings and films for research and private study. [141882]

Jo Swinson:
The Government's assessment of the costs and benefits of the planned changes to research and private study are given in its impact assessment at:

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/consult-ia-bis0311.pdf

EU Internal Trade

Mr Robin Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made on establishing a UK retail in Europe network to support retail growth in the European single market. [141841]

Michael Fallon:
BIS is setting up a working group to address the issues in the European retail action plan, published on 31 January 2013.

Exports

Alun Cairns:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps UK Trade and Investment has taken to work with other agencies to maximise export opportunities. [141949]

UKTI's regional trade teams are managed by a range of organisations, particularly Chambers of Commerce, and much UKTI activity involving missions and overseas exhibitions is delivered in conjunction with national sector trade associations. UKTI has built on leveraging partnerships with its private sector partners and a range

7 Feb 2013 : Column 388W

of other stakeholders to raise awareness of its services, using key intermediaries such as banks, accountants and lawyers. Close relationships are maintained with local enterprise partnerships and other regional stakeholders.

Green Investment Bank

Mr Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has plans to allow the Green Investment Bank to borrow. [142064]

Michael Fallon:
The Government are fully committed to providing the UK Green Investment Bank (UK GIB) with the funding it needs to be an enduring and effective financial institution. With £3 billion to 2015, the bank is being amply funded so that it will not need to borrow in the short to medium term.

As set out during second reading of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill in the House of Lords, the focus of the Chairman of UK GIB, Lord Smith, is on building a well run organisation with a good track record worthy of the injection of more capital or borrowing money in capital markets.

Public Bodies

Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times he has met the chief executive of each of his Department's (a) Executive agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies in the last 12 months. [141878]

Jo Swinson:
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has met twice with a chief executive of an executive agency and has held meetings with four chief executives of non-departmental public bodies in the last 12 months.

Culture, Media and Sport

Arts

Mr Nicholas Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information her Department holds on the effect of businesses in the arts and cultural sectors on the economy (a) in general and (b) in the Tyne and Wear conurbation. [140195]

Mr Vaizey:
DCMS estimates at the regional level the number of enterprises in the Creative Industries, which will include some arts and cultural enterprises. The numbers of such enterprises may provide an indication of where gross value added of the sector, which DCMS estimates at the national level, is created at the regional level.

Creative enterprises by region 2011

Number/percentage

Sector

N. East

N. West

Yorks and Humbs

East Mids

West Mids

East of Eng

London

S. East

S. West

Wales

Scotland

N. Ire

UK total

1. Advertising

350

1,590

930

760

990

1,540

4,660

2,940

1,210

280

590

200

16,010

7 Feb 2013 : Column 389W

7 Feb 2013 : Column 390W

2. Architecture

270

940

670

610

750

1,060

2,790

1,850

1,010

350

990

410

11,700

3. Art and Antiques

60

220

170

150

180

240

520

430

300

90

150

70

2,580

4. Crafts(1)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

5. Design

320

1,060

850

870

940

1,460

4,210

2,560

1,190

340

680

230

14,720

6. Designer Fashion

20

70

60

60

60

100

280

170

80

20

40

20

970

7. Film, Video and Photography

120

510

310

260

320

700

5,120

1,590

670

250

380

130

10,360

9 and 10. Music, Visual and Performing Arts

380

1,580

1,140

1,020

1,150

2,510

13,290

5,140

2,300

680

1,070

190

30,460

11. Publishing

140

640

530

540

610

1,100

2,520

1,850

940

240

470

120

9,700

8 and 12. Software and Electronic Publishing

30

140

110

100

140

210

350

430

150

40

100

10

1,810

8 and 12. Digital and Entertainment Media

10

30

20

20

30

40

120

100

40

10

20

10

440

13. TV and Radio

90

370

200

190

260

500

4,030

1,230

500

220

280

100

7,960

Total

1,800

7,100

5,000

4,600

5,400

9,500

37,900

18,300

8,400

2,500

4,800

1,500

106,700

Proportion of all creative enterprises (%)

1.70

6.70

4.70

4.30

5.10

8.90

35.50

17.20

7.90

2.30

4.50

1.40

100.00

(1) The data available did not allow us to measure the number of enterprises in the Crafts Industry.

Broadband: South West

Sir Nick Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential benefits of 4G mobile broadband to Devon and Somerset. [141848]

Mr Vaizey:
I have not made any assessment of the benefits of 4G to specific counties in the UK. I understand that Ofcom, which is conducting the 4G auction, has made an assessment of the economic value of 4G to consumers across the UK as a whole. It estimates this to be at least £20 billion over the next 10 years.

Sir Nick Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to invest in 4G mobile broadband in Devon and Somerset. [141849]

Mr Vaizey:
Investment decisions into mobile networks are for the licensees of the spectrum used to provide 4G services to take. However, the 4G auction includes one licence with a demanding 98% coverage obligation which is designed to ensure that coverage for 4G exceeds existing 3G coverage and is comparable to current 2G coverage.

Sir Nick Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential of 4G broadband roll-out to complement connecting Devon and Somerset's plans for superfast broadband. [141850]

Mr Vaizey:
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is monitoring market developments in 4G in the light of the current spectrum auctions and is considering the potential of 4G services to complement fixed-line broadband services, along with other technology options.

Growth and Infrastructure Bill

Roberta Blackman-Woods:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which part of the European regulatory framework for communications prevents clause 8 of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill being limited to specific forms of communications infrastructure; and if she will make a statement. [141678]

Mr Vaizey:
Clause 8 can make no distinction between the type of communications infrastructure to which it relates because compliance with article 8(1) of the Framework Directive 2002/21/EC requires technology neutrality so far as the primary implementing legislation

7 Feb 2013 : Column 391W

is concerned. That primary implementing legislation is section 109 Communications Act 2003, which clause 8 amends. Restrictions and conditions relevant to different types of infrastructure may be made at the level of secondary legislation which in this case is the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003.

Mayors: Tower Hamlets

Jim Fitzpatrick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the case for new regulation following the report by Ofcom into the political broadcasts of the Mayor of Tower Hamlets. [142110]

Mr Vaizey:
On 21 January Ofcom announced that it had found five licensees in serious breach of the prohibition on political advertising and was taking appropriate action. Ofcom is independent of Government and it is up to it to warn or fine licensees or revoke licences as appropriate for breaches of their broadcast code. I have no plans to introduce further regulation in the area of political advertising.

Home Department

Capita

Keith Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met the Chief Executive of Capita. [140625]

James Brokenshire:
Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Conditions of Employment

Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in her Department are employed on zero hours contracts. [141874]

James Brokenshire[holding answer 6 February 2013]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 997W.

Dangerous Driving

Rehman Chishti:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been given multiple custodial sentences for dangerous driving while (a) under the influence of alcohol and (b) not under the influence of alcohol since 2000; [139816]

(2) how many people with a previous conviction for dangerous driving while (a) under the influence of alcohol and (b) not under the influence of alcohol have been later charged with dangerous driving while (i) under the influence and (ii) not under the influence of alcohol in each of the last 10 years; [139818]

7 Feb 2013 : Column 392W

(3) how many people who have previously served a custodial sentence for dangerous driving while (a) under the influence of alcohol and (b) not under the influence of alcohol have been charged for the same offence within 10 years in each of the last 10 years. [139820]

Jeremy Wright:
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

PQ 139816

(a) 1,872 offenders have been given multiple custodial sentences for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol since 2000.

(b) 2,870 offenders have been given multiple custodial sentences for dangerous driving while not under the influence of alcohol since 2000

PO 139818

Table 1A shows the number of offenders with a previous conviction for dangerous driving under the influence of alcohol who have been later convicted for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales.

Table 1A : Number of offenders with a previous conviction for dangerous driving under the influence of alcohol who have been later convicted for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales

12 months ending June

Under the influence of alcohol

Not under the influence of alcohol

2002

12,211

1,314

2003

14,472

1,560

2004

15,964

1,598

2005

16,647

1,516

2006

16,755

1,410

2007

16,864

1,443

2008

16,923

1,364

2009

15,646

1,238

2010

14,425

1,152

2011

13,036

1,024

2012

12,871

1,045

Source:
Ministry of Justice

Table 1B shows the number of offenders with a previous conviction for dangerous driving ‘not’ under the influence of alcohol who have been later convicted for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales.

Table 1B: Number of offenders with a previous conviction for dangerous driving not under the influence of alcohol who have been later convicted for dangerous driving while under the influence and not under the influence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales, England and Wales

12 months ending June

Under the influence of alcohol

Not under the influence of alcohol

2002

2,745

1,791

2003

3,111

1,970

2004

3,289

1,934

2005

3,199

1,778

2006

3,193

1,559

2007

3,014

1,551

2008

2,986

1,442

2009

2,715

1,257

2010

2,625

1,049

2011

2,331

959

7 Feb 2013 : Column 393W

2012

2,326

1,035

Source:
Ministry of Justice

PO 139820

Table 2: Number of offenders who previously served a custodial sentence for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol who have been charged for the same offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales.

Table 2: Number of offenders who previously served a custodial sentence for dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol and not under the influence of alcohol who have been charged for the same offence in each year, 12 months ending June 2002 to 12 months ending June 2012, England and Wales.

12 months ending June

Under the influence of alcohol

Not under the influence of alcohol

2002

2,657

1,252

2003

3,067

1,408

2004

3,130

1,432

2005

3,077

1,271

2006

2,854

1,122

2007

2,548

1,060

2008

2,411

983

2009

2,138

835

2010

1,910

719

2011

1,709

622

2012

1,599

685

Source:
Ministry of Justice

The Police National Computer (PNC) came into existence in 2000 and information prior to this is not considered reliable so data before July 2001 are not available. The figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, (PNC) which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.

Drink driving offences presented in the tables include the following offences:

Theft Act 1968 S.12A as added by the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992 S. 1 - Aggravated taking where owing to the driving of the vehicle an accident occurs causing the death of any person

7 Feb 2013 : Column 394W

Theft act 1968 s. 12a - aggravated taking where : a) the vehicle was driven dangerously on a road or other public place, or b) owing to the driving of the vehicle an accident occurred causing injury to any person or damage to any property other than the v

Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec.5 (1) (a) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit.

Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) Driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.

Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 4(2) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment).

Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 5(1) ( b ) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle while having a breath, blood or urine alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit,

Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 7(6) In charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle and failing without reasonable excuse to provide a for a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath.

Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 6(4) Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test.

Failing to allow specimen of blood to be subjected to laboratory test. Road Traffic Act 1998

Failure to comply with an order to stop a moving vehicle, Police Reform Act 2002.

Use of hand held mobile phone while driving. Road Vehicles Regulations 1986.

Causing the use of a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle. Road Vehicles Regulations 1986.

Using a mobile phone while supervising the holder of a provisional driving licence to drive a motor vehicle on the road. Road Vehicles Regulations 1986

Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 12(1) Racing on highway.

Detention Centres: Children

Dan Jarvis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were detained for immigration purposes in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [142105]

Mr Harper:
The Home Office publishes monthly, quarterly and annual statistics on the number of children detained in the UK within Immigration Statistics. The

7 Feb 2013 : Column 395W

data on children entering detention by quarter are readily available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: July-September 2012, table dt.01.q from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at:

Figures on people held are those detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers and exclude those in police cells, Prison Service establishments, short-term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours), and those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants.

Data for October-December 2012 and annual figures for 2012 will be released as part of the regular Home Office publication scheme on 28 February 2013.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mean average spend using a Government Procurement Card was per member of staff in (a) her Department and (b) each of its arm's length bodies in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [141461]

James Brokenshire:
The information requested on Government Procurement Card spend for the Home Department and its arm's length bodies can be found in the following table.

2011 GPC Spend per member of staff (£)

2012 GPC Spend per member of staff (£)

Home Office and its agencies

127

102

NPIA

924

527

IPCC

256

219

SIA

n/a

12

OISC

306

357

ISA

67

102

SOCA

n/a

2

DBS

n/a

n/a

Note:
SIA and SOCA did not have GPC cards in 2011, and DBS was not established until 1 December 2012.

Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) her Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card. [141501]

James Brokenshire:
The Home Department and its arm's length bodies have been provided with guidance by HM Treasury for spend over £25,000 and over £500 using the Government Procurement Card. A copy of the ‘Government guidance on Spend’ and the ‘Treasury guidance on Spend for ALBs’ will be placed in the Library. This information has been issued to relevant staff and implemented.